NRL Opener - Let's Show Them How To Do It

Share on social media

BRONCOS boss Paul White has a bold plan to fill 52,000-seat Suncorp Stadium as part of a push to ensure Queensland launches the NRL season every year.

The Broncos have experienced a pre-season surge of interest and are on track for 30,000 members as fans warmly embrace the return of coach Wayne Bennett.

The Broncos launch their campaign against premiers Souths on March 5 and the blockbuster is seen as a platform to confirm Suncorp as a regular home for the NRL season-opener.

Fierce inner-city rivals the Roosters and Souths launched the NRL season last year, attracting 27,282 fans to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

The Broncos aim to blow that figure out of the water with a Suncorp sellout that would send an irresistible statement of Queensland’s passion for marquee league events to NRL officials.

Tickets for the Broncos-Rabbitohs clash go on sale from 9am on Thursday and White has appealed for fans to fill Suncorp and deliver an Origin-style atmosphere.

“I want to deliver a superb event so that we retain the season opener in Queensland,” the Broncos boss said.

“The NRL grand final is traditionally played in Sydney, so this is Queensland’s chance to showcase what we can do for the NRL.

“This is a challenge for our club, our supporters and the city to make Suncorp Stadium a sellout.

“We haven’t hosted the opening game for a while, so there is a real anticipation about the season opener and our plan is to fill Suncorp Stadium.

“We’re hoping to have 10,000 tickets sold in this first week. As the event draws closer, we’ll be doing everything to demonstrate to the NRL that we are the right place to host the season opener year in, year out.”

Last year’s Broncos-Souths clash at Suncorp was one of the games of the season. The Rabbitohs won 28-26 in an Anzac Day cracker before 44,122 fans.

This year’s instalment has several selling points.

The Rabbitohs will be launching their title defence under the captaincy of Maroons star Greg Inglis while Corey Parker will celebrate his 300th game for the Broncos.

To cap a memorable night, Bennett will officially mark his return to the club he steered to six premierships between 1992 and 2006.

The Broncos have achieved a 12 per cent increase in memberships from the corresponding period last year, due largely to Bennett’s return and the signing of big guns Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford.

“Our strategic target until the end of 2017 is to have 35,000 members and we are tracking well this year,” White said.

“There is a sense of trust around Wayne coming back to the club and we’ve recruited as well as any club.

“We’re very cognisant of our past. The game needs a strong Brisbane Broncos, so we’ll go as hard as we can to fill Suncorp and hopefully the fans get behind our vision.’’